Fitness Characteristics of Female Patients with Fibromyalgia

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize the fitness status of female fibromyalgia syndrome [FS] patients through comparison of performances in fitness testing between FS patients and matched performances in fitness testing between FS patients and matched healthy controls [HC]; examination of the reproducibility of fitness testing in FS patients; and analysis of the effect of [former] sports participation on fitness testing in FS patients. Methods: Eighty-seven FS patients [mean: 44.5 years of age, 12.5 yrs of disease duration] and 52 matched HCs from clerical personnel [44 years of age] participated in the study. Twelve fitness tests were selected to evaluate cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, coordination [skills] and body composition. Results: The peak workload achieved in incremental bicycle ergometer test was significantly lower [30 W, 19%] in FS patients than in HCs. The peak heart rate was also significantly lower [15 b/min, 11%] in FS patients, but the perceived exertion rate was higher [0.7 units, 4%]. These findings indicate that FS patients perceived the peak workload achieved as their maximum although the maximal aerobic power was not yet attained as suggested by the submaximal heart rate. At the same submaximal work [50 W] the heart rate in the FS patients was also lower [5 b/min, 4%], but the perceived exertion rate higher [1.4 units, 12%]. The performances in the strength, flexibility and skills tests were poor [P < 0.001] in the FS patients compared to the HCs. The most remarkable finding in the retest was the lower peak heart rate [10 W, 8%, P < 0.01] associated with a lower peak heart rate [7 b/min, 4%, P < 0.01] and an unchanged perceived exertion rate. The FS subjects identified the muscle soreness experienced after the first test session as an extra reason to restrict their effort on the second test. FS patients [formerly] active in sports performed better in the fitness tests than did "always sedentary" patients. Conclusions: FS patients may avoid potentially beneficial physical exercise because of the muscle soreness it provokes. Therefore, it may be incorrect to attribute their poor performance in fitness testing entirely to poor fitness.

KEYWORDS:

• Fibromyalgia syndrome
• muscle soreness
• fitness testing